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MAY 2026 I SMT007 MAGAZINE 27 graders to see how CAD is used in the real-world, right here in our region." Meanwhile, Licavoli-Wall is ar- ranging new funding for a Stories & Steel program, along the same lines as Stories & Semiconductors. This time he aims to create a se- ries easily adaptable for different age groups. To bring Stories & Semiconduc- tors to life, Licavoli-Wall and Gei- ger also worked closely with Steve Kass, CTE instructor and associate work-based learning coordinator for the Copper Country Intermediate School District. CTE (Career and Technical Education) prepares high school stu- dents for a range of high-skill, in-demand careers. A few weeks before their field trip to the Michi- gan Tech campus, the fourth-graders took a tour of the CCISD CTE Center in the nearby town of Hancock. The tour was led by a team of CTE high school students, who highlighted the various pro- grams and industries CTE represents. "Stories & Semiconductors has been a powerful way to connect classroom learning with real-world careers," Kass said. "Through this program, all the students learned firsthand just how integral semi- conductor technology is to every industry. Whether in business, automotive technology, construction, welding and manufacturing, education, engineer- ing, or health sciences, semiconductor technology plays a vital role. This awareness is critical as we work to build a strong talent pipeline and pre- pare students for careers that are essential to our economy and future workforce." Coming up this spring are two more fourth-grade field trips for Stories & Semiconductors. Their first stop will be Calumet Electronics, located in Calu- met, Michigan, about 30 minutes from the Michi- gan Tech campus. The company provided circuit boards and background information for Stories & Semiconductors story and demos. "The ultra-modern Calumet Electronics fab is almost other-worldly," Licavoli-Wall said. "It will be fascinating for the kids to explore. We'll see if any- one dresses up like Willy Wonka!" For their final field trip in the Stories & Semicon- ductors program, the fourth graders will visit the Quincy Mine Hoist in Hancock. There they will get a direct look at one of the settings in the book, and a chance to learn about the local technological his- tory that inspired the stories. Licavoli-Wall's youth outreach efforts started early in life. "My mom worked as a paraprofes- sional at my K-8 parochial school. During my high school years, I'd join my mom in the classroom to read to the kids," he recalled. "I was taking advanced calculus at the time, so I started doing that kind of math on the chalkboard. I was able to 'lightly' explain the fundamental theory of calculus to second grade students. They were interested in what I was writing on the board and some even got it on a very basic level, which helped make math less intimidating for them. Demystifying tough topics is key." Several others played substantial roles in the creative development of Stories & Semiconductors. Carolyn Yarina, principal consultant at the Verdigris Group and her team helped to refine the book and demo materials into a clear, stylish set of instruc- tions. Alicia Truett was instrumental in developing the story art and events, working alongside the Verdigris Group. Michigan Tech alum Matt Monte did rapid turnaround work to assist with identity and branding. Helen Rau, who recently earned her PhD in Materials Science and Engineering at Michigan Tech, helped design the hands-on demos and took part in many writing sessions. SMT007 L–R: Ben Keppers, Peter Kocour, Rishin Patra, and Michael Maurer.